More than 500 works of art to be exhibited from young artists at Freeport Art Museum

Jane Lethlean Correspondent

Saturday

Feb 24, 2018 at 10:00 AM

FREEPORT — Local aspiring artists from area schools will have more than 500 works of art exhibited in the Aspiring Artists Show at Freeport Art Museum. The show features the talent and creativity of youth in grades K-12 from schools in Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Ogle counties.

In 2017, the show had a record crowd of more than 400 visitors who came to see the display of paintings, drawings and sculptures by hundreds of students.

“Always a favorite, the Aspiring Artists exhibition demonstrates the wonderful talent and creativity of the students in our communities and the high level of arts instruction they receive from their art educators,” Treu said.

Museum staff spent the better part of this past week installing the works of art to be ready for last Friday’s opening reception. Each work of art was judged by guest juror Abbe Hayner, who is a member of the Freeport School District Board of Education. Jodi Miller, Freeport mayor, was the special guest to welcome participants and present the awards.

This year’s exhibition is sponsored by FAM Gold members and FHN.

Carrie Baxter, collections and exhibitions manager, helped install many of the works of art for the exhibition. Baxter said one of her favorite aspects of this show is that young people within the community are able to show their talents to friends, family and the community.

Jessica Modica, executive director of FAM, said works of art are displayed in the Newell and Ferguson galleries on the main floor. Awards for a first, second and third place in each group are sponsored by Brick Art Supplies.

“This exhibition provides a great opportunity for the community to witness the impressive art skills students are developing in our area schools,” Modica said. “We feel it is an important part of the museum’s mission to support the outstanding efforts on the part of art educators in our area — we can all be very proud of the work they are doing.”

The exhibition opened Friday with an award ceremony and will be on view at the FAM through April 6.

Freeport Art Museum is located at 121 N. Harlem Ave., and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tours may be scheduled by calling 815-235-9755. Admission to the museum is free, however, donations are appreciated.

Jane Lethlean: jlethlean1210@gmail.com; @DOGWMN2

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